The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-11-18
AMONG THE PRINTERS.
Some Interesting Incidents OF IAfc in the
Composing E-EooIn.

Just az much Of the humorous charac-
ter aS has ever been gathered together
and published by 'funny-mcn' gradu
ateS from composing rooms has been
kept from the columns of newspapers
because after the laugh the Jokes created
they have been almost forgotten. But
few of the decidedly rich thing that
have been got of" in composing g-rooms
by the men who have regulations III their
sphere ~ workIncn are we'll worth To-
cording.
While 4 well-known foreman Of The
Ns5C York Post compOSing-rsom Wiellled
authority there some twenty years ago
he now having = post at = foreign station
under the government he was acrre lit
eel with running the Office with shorter
allowance OF type than any other man as
4 foreman would have thought possible,
or would have had the tenerity to DO.
He was constantly bcsiceed for sorts"
and his policy was OccasiOu Of much
VituperatiCn piled upon his h-ad-when
he WAS not present. On on" dav 4 sub
in the Office WAS seen, towaT ! the end OF
composition hours, crawling about the
floor and picking up type. He was asked
bv the Joker of the room:
''What are YOU doing. Jack 20
I'm trying 10 get typ. enough to finish
this take : that's what I'm doinZ," said
he. in rather disCusted tons.
We'll, wnat sorts do you want What
arr YOU short Of -
i want some his"
10 over there under No. 19's frame.
He IN EES.iSbAIu. He drops th=n,
Was the comfortable reply.
This same foreman was somewhat
particular as TO the care displaying ia
setting type, and was very much per
plexed AZ any time If a bad division was
nntc, an odeuSe il any Office as . mat
ter II TACT. \ comp new 10 the o.iice
had on his first days work divided the
worQ tongue, doing i thus tongue. The
proof On which Il occurred came under
the ''oij mans eve, and - the "siU."
gave the pcrpetratOr away, lao went for
him thus:
hat have YOU got in your mouth ?"
thinking 10 gain point on the comp
by his answering and proaOunciug the
offending word correctly.
"IFeh -
'-Yhat have you in your. mouth. sir p"
-c.a2csy, soF,' was the p2rsivzjng
answer apt the foreman, aitb2uga
"hEocked out retired - corner to
himself 70 indulge in the general laugh
that ensUcl.
a weIl-known foreman of large Vow
York newspaper 1pOsinz-rogul
though austrr- iEsido the csice. anl
l@NoflnE noDptF, and decidedly good
fellow outSiue-was very fond cl , quiet
joke, which usually plrlook OF q rather
practical uaturer Some years 1aso a
',chapel' meeting was held on the ques-
non oI having too many CgmpositCrs On
the paper, and q COMMITTEES - SIX was
appointed Z wait upon the f0r-u. IN and
try TO get him 10 consent 10 reduce III.
force. \ gentleman who X s:ill known
aiilgng sew York printers WIS chosen
chairman OF the committee AMI spokes-
man, and lac AMI his associates waited
upon the 'O.j man. Snl stated the case,
saying that if the force yycra reduced
thus; remaining could mske decent
living. when the following colloquy took
place:
How many too many men do YOU
think are on the paper ~
I'VE have considered the matter and
think six - about the number"
The iornlan glanced with a twinkle in
his eye from one end Of the committee
line TO the other and said, with wave
OF the hand across We'll, you SIX can
CO. and they were discharged.